6 April 2012 Frequently Asked Questions for Local Authorities on ...

Some authorities pay the school uni<strong>for</strong>m grant to families of eligiblepupils by voucher which can be redeemed at school uni<strong>for</strong>m retailers.Occasionally, families of eligible pupils do not spend to the full value ofthe grant voucher, what should we do?The Welsh Government would urge local authorities to encourage families tospend the full amount of the grant voucher as this is a one off payment <strong>for</strong>their children. If some families still do not spend the full amount of thevoucher, the actual amount of grant paid out to families should be the amountclaimed from the Welsh Government. When submitting the claim to the WelshGovernment, local authorities should provide an explanation of this on theclaim <strong>for</strong>m. An example is provided below:The claim may state that 150 pupils claimed the grant. The amount of grantavailable is £105 per pupil but the actual amount of grant claimed from theWelsh Government is £15,685 (and not £15,750). The claim <strong>for</strong>m oraccompanying document needs to explain how this is made up - e.g. 145pupils at £105, 2 pupils at £95 and 3 pupils at £90.What is the deadline <strong>for</strong> receiving applications <strong>for</strong> the grant?Families are able to apply to local authorities <strong>for</strong> the grant from the 1 July <strong>for</strong>the start of the <strong>for</strong>thcoming school year. <strong>Local</strong> authorities can acceptapplications earlier than this date if they wish if it fits in with otherarrangements they may have. <strong>Local</strong> authorities should receive application<strong>for</strong>ms <strong>for</strong> the grant from families by 31 October. However local authoritieshave discretion to accept applications up to 31 January from eligible families:• whose children have become eligible <strong>for</strong> free school meals;• who have moved into Wales; or• whose children have moved from a school in another authority to aschool in the maintaining authority.If an eligible pupil attends school in one authority in Wales but lives in adifferent authority in Wales, which authority should they apply to <strong>for</strong> thegrant?The application will need to be made to the maintaining authority <strong>for</strong> thesecondary school and not the authority where the pupil lives.If an eligible pupil attends primary school in one authority in Wales butwill be attending a secondary school within another authority in Wales,which authority should they apply to <strong>for</strong> the grant?The application will need to be made to the maintaining authority <strong>for</strong> thesecondary school and not the maintaining authority <strong>for</strong> the primary school.Are pupils who live in Wales and who meet the eligibility criteria <strong>for</strong> thegrant able to claim <strong>for</strong> the grant if they are attending a secondary schoolin England?Yes. The school uni<strong>for</strong>m grant is payable to eligible pupils who live in Waleseven though they attend schools across the border in England. Theapplication <strong>for</strong> the grant will need to be made to the authority in Wales wherethey live.6 <strong>April</strong> <strong>2012</strong>

Are pupils who live in England but attend schools in Wales able to claimthe grant?No. The grant is not payable to children living in England and attendingschools in Wales. This is not a UK wide grant and applicable to Wales only.The purpose of the school uni<strong>for</strong>m grant is to offer financial assistance tothose families in Wales in most need of additional help.6 <strong>April</strong> <strong>2012</strong>